Cigarette receptacle and extinguishing device



Feb. 11, 1941. w. J. SEELlNGER CIGARETTE RECEPTACLE AND EXTINGUISHINGDEVICE Filed April 13, 1938 jfig.1

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INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. SEELINGER ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES CIGARETTE RECEPTACLE ANDEXTINGUI'SHING DEVICE William J. Seelinger, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,782

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a cigarette receptacle and extinguishingdevice, one of the principal objects being to provide a receptacle andextinguishing device in which the cigarette is extinguished preparatoryto its discharge into the receptacle and in which the receptacle issealed after the discharge of the cigarette thereinto.

A more specific object is to provide a simple and effective device ofthis character comprising a tubular cigarette receiving member having apassage therethrough which is slightly larger in diameter than acigarette and which is disposed so as to receive the cigarette endwiseand smother its lighted end, the bottom end of the passage being closedby a suitable trap door which is sufficiently overbalanced and soarranged as to sustain the weight of the cigarette and yet which willopen and discharge a cigarette into the receptacle when the cigarette istapped slightly endwise.

Another object is to provide a device of this character in combinationwith an automobile dash panel and in which the receptacle is so relatedto the extinguishing device that the receptacle may readily, be removedwithout disturbing the extinguishing device.

Other objects and. advantages will become apparent from the followingspecification wherein reference is made to the drawing, in which Figure1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an automobile dash panel with thepresent invention installed;

Figure 2 is an enlarged scale View taken on a plane indicated by theline 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a device embodying a modification oftheinvention; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing anothermodification of the invention.

Referring, first to Figures 1 and 2, the device is shown in connectionwith an automobile dash panel I which is provided with a removabledrawer 2, the support for the drawer preferably being in the form ofinturned flanges 3 integral with the dash panel. Above the drawer, thepanel is provided with a cup-shaped depression 4 having near its centeran inwardly extending annular flange 5 which defines a central openingthrough the bottom of the cup-shaped portion 4. Mounted within thecup-shaped portion 4 and supported by the flange 5 is a tubular member 6having a flared outer end as indicated at 1 so arranged as to mergegenerally with the bottom of the cupshaped portion 4 of the dash. Thetubular member 6 is open at the outer end to receive a cigarette C, asillustrated in Figure 2. At its inner drawer and, in turn, support thetubular member end the tubular member 6 is cut off on a plane obliquewith respect to .the axis of the tubular member so that the inner orlower end of the tubular member 6 is oblique to the axis of the tubularmember. Hingedly connected to the tubular member at the lower port-ionof the oblique end is a trap door -8 which normally swings upwardly intoclosing relation to the oblique end of the tubular member. The door 8 isyieldably urged into position by a suitable overbalance 9 which 10 maybe formed integral therewith from a single piece of strip metal. Thehinge axis, indicated at I0, is, as stated, at the lower or innermostpart of the oblique end of the tubular member, that is, the part whichis farthest removed from the outer end of the tubular member, so thatthe door 8 lies in the plane of the oblique end of the tubular member.Thus the door is engaged by the end of the cigarette and moved aconsiderable distance toward open position before the end of thecigarette can strike the door near the hinge. Furthermore, theoverbalance is such that in whatever operating position the tubularmember 6 is disposed, the door supports the cigarette but will open andpermit the cigarette to drop out of the tube when the cigarette istapped lightly on the outer end. By placing the hinge connection at thelower part of the oblique end of the tubular member 6, the danger ofjamming of the cigarette in the tube due to pressure between thecigarette and the door is eliminated, whereas in prior structures inwhich the cigarette may engage the door near the hinge before the dooris appreciably open, such jamming is not uncommon. In this form of theinvention the extinguishing device is prominently supported by the dashpanel itself and only the drawer part of the combination is removable.In Figure 3 a similar structure is shown wherein the extinguishingportion of the device is carried directly in the drawer so that both canbe readily removed.

Referring to Figure 3, the panel 20 is provided with a drawer 2|.Transverse supporting members 22 are connected to the side walls of the23 which corresponds in form and function to the tubular member 6,heretofore described. The tubular member 23 is also provided with a door24 and overbalance 25 corresponding to the door 8 and overbalance 9heretofore described.

Referring next to Figure 4, there is illustrated a modification of theinvention wherein the re ceptacle may be an exposed container or may beincorporated into the arm of an automobile seat. In this form of theinvention the receptacle 3!! is provided with a cover 3| which may be ofmetal or thermoplastic material. The cover 3| is provided with aperipheral flange 32 which snugly embraces the top of the receptacle 30.The cover also has a central cup-shaped portion 33 which slopesdownwardly and inwardly and terminates into an integral tubular portion34, the walls of the portions 33 and 34 merging in a gradual curve. Tothe lower end of the portion 34 is secured a sheet metal sleeve 35, thesleeve being secured in place by suitable clamping screws 36. The trapdoor 31 is overbalanced by a weight 38 which may be integral therewithand is connected by a hinge 39 to the lower end of the sleeve 35. Thelower end of the sleeve is also cut on a bias so that the lower end liesin a plane which is oblique to the axis of the sleeve. Likewise theoverbalance of the door is such that it will support the full weight ofthe cigarette without opening it but will open and discharge thecigarette into the receptacle if the cigarette is tapped lightlydownwardly at its upper end.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a combined ash receptacle and cigarette extinguishing device, atube associated therewith in position above the bottom of thereceptacle, extending downwardly and having one end arranged todischarge into the receptacle, said end being oblique to the axis of thetube, a door hingedly connected to the tube at the portion of said endof the tube furthest removed from the other end of the tube so that thetube closing portion of the door is adapted to swing past the hinge froman open position into closing relation to said end, said tube being ofan internal diameter to fit a cigarette approximately and to smother thesame when the door is closed, and means overbalancing the door andnormally holding the door in closing position with approximately onlysufficient force to sustain the dead weight of the cigarette.

2. In a combined ash receptacle and cigarette extinguishing device, atubular member associated therewith in position above the bottom of thereceptacle and having one end arranged to discharge generally downwardlyinto the receptacle, said end of the tubular member being oblique to theaxis of the member, a door hingedly connected to the member at said endthereof and arranged to swing upwardly into closing relation to saidend, the hinge axis of the door being arranged adjacent the portion ofthe oblique end of the member furthest removed from the other end of themember so that the door swings from an open to a closed position pastthe hinge axis, and a weight rigid with said door and disposed at theopposite side of the hinge axis therefrom and operative to overbalancethe door and hold it lightly in closed position While the cigarette isresting thereon.

WILLIAM J. SEELINGER.

